5G UE SSB Measurement Outside Active BWP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular networks face challenges in efficiently managing spectrum usage and power consumption, particularly in 5G networks, as the number of user equipment (UEs) increases, leading to stress on uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmission performance, and existing methods limit the ability of user equipment (UEs) to measure synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) outside their active bandwidth parts (BWPs).
Innovation Solution
The solution involves configuring user equipment (UEs) to perform Layer 1 (L1) measurements of cell-defining synchronization signal blocks (CD-SSBs) transmitted outside their active BWP, allowing UEs to report their capability to measure SSBs across different bandwidths and numerologies, enabling flexible resource allocation and reducing power consumption by subdividing channel bandwidth into smaller bandwidth parts (BWPs).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment is configured to measure SSBs only within active BWP, then measurement complexity is reduced and power consumption is lowered, but the ability to measure SSBs outside active BWP is limited, restricting flexible resource allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement capability into two segments: measurements within active BWP (always permitted) and measurements outside active BWP (conditional based on capability indication). This segmentation allows the system to enable extended measurement functionality only when needed, without forcing all UEs to implement complex out-of-BWP measurement capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic capability indication where UEs can signal their ability to perform L1 measurements outside active BWP. This dynamic approach allows the network to adaptively configure measurement opportunities based on actual UE capabilities, enabling flexible resource allocation while avoiding unnecessary complexity in UEs that cannot perform such measurements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If channel bandwidth is subdivided into smaller bandwidth parts (BWPs), then power consumption is reduced and resource management is improved, but the number of BWPs increases, requiring more complex configuration and management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent subdivides the channel bandwidth into multiple smaller BWPs, each potentially containing different SSBs. This segmentation enables UEs to activate only the BWP relevant to their current communication needs, reducing power consumption by keeping the radio frequency front-end active only for necessary bandwidth portions while managing configuration through standardized signaling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal capability indication mechanism that works across multiple BWP configurations. The UE's capability to perform L1 measurements outside active BWP is indicated once and applies universally to any BWP configuration, eliminating the need for separate configuration management for each BWP and reducing overall configuration complexity despite having multiple BWPs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If UEs are configured with multiple BWPs for different services, then service flexibility is improved, but only one BWP can be active at a time, limiting simultaneous access to multiple services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables UEs to perform L1 measurements on SSBs in inactive BWPs before switching to those BWPs. This preliminary measurement action allows the UE to assess signal quality and prepare for BWP switching in advance, ensuring seamless service transitions when activating different BWPs for different services, thus maintaining service flexibility despite the single-active-BWP constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic BWP switching capability where the network can reconfigure which BWP is active based on service requirements. Combined with the capability indication for out-of-BWP measurements, this allows the system to dynamically switch between BWPs serving different services, maintaining ease of operation through network-controlled management while preserving service flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are directed toward measuring a synchronization signal block (SSB) outside an active bandwidth part (BWP). An example method includes a user equipment (UE) transmitting an indication of a capability to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB) outside of an active bandwidth part (BWP) to a base station. The method can further include the UE receiving, based on the transmission, a first configuration parameter for identifying a first BWP and a second BWP, a second configuration parameter for identifying the first BWP as an active BWP, and a third configuration parameter for identifying a frequency that is carrying the SSB. The method can further include the UE detecting the SSB in the second BWP and outside of the active BWP. The method can further include the UE measuring the SSB.